Vidalia Sweeps Thomson in First Round Playoffs
The Vidalia High School Indians baseball team traveled to Thomson on Monday afternoon for a doubleheader against the Thomson Bulldogs in the first round of the State Playoffs. The Indians swept the 4AA Region Champs by scores of 12-5 and 4-1 to advance into the second round on Saturday, April 29, against Cook County. The Indians will have to travel once again. The Indian defense continued playing well getting one double play in the first game and three in the second game including one to end the game.
Game 1
Dawson Stewart started on the mound in Game 1 going 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, one walk, striking out one and picking up the win. Jackson Berry came on to get the final out in the bot- continued from page
tom of the 5th inning and then pitched the last two innings to pick up the save.
The offense picked up 11 hits in the game with Cason Banks leading the way with two hits including a three run bomb to right in the 4th inning. There were nine other Indians collecting a hit with Morgan Moye also collecting three RBI's.
The Indians jumped on top with two runs in the top of the 1st inning. Banks singled to start the game but was forced out at second on a ground ball out by Moncus. Bennett followed with a walk. Carson Ricks hit a deep fly to left, which was misplayed for an error, letting Moncus score, moving Bennett to third and Ricks ending up at second. Bennett scored on a wild pitch giving the Indians a 2-0 lead going to the bottom half. The Bulldogs got a lead off walk and then a single, putting runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. The next batter hit a ground ball to Moncus, who stepped on third and threw to first for the double play; and when Stewart got a ground ball out from the next batter, the Indians were left on top by a 2-0 score.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning the Bulldogs got a single and double to plate a run, making it a 2-1 ball game after two complete. However, in the top of the 3rd inning the Indians got a lead off double from Moncus, who scored on a double by Carson Ricks. Ricks moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lawson Lowe. The Bulldogs went down quickly in the bottom half leaving the Indians on top by a 4-1 score after three complete.
The Indians picked up three more runs in the top of the 4th inning. Veer Patel led off with a single, Moye walked and both runners were moved over by Andrew Norfleet's sacrifice bunt. Banks followed with a three run bomb into the trees behind the right field fence. The Bulldogs were able to get one run back in the bottom half, making it a 7-2 Indian lead after four complete.
Lawson Lowe led off the 5th inning with a triple, and Conner Whited followed with an RBI single. Patel walked and Moye drove them both home with a double. Moye scored on a Norfleet single, giving the Indians an 11-2 lead going into the bottom half. The Bulldogs scored two runs to make it an 11-4 ballgame after five complete.
The Indians scored their last run in the top of the 6th inning as Whited was walked, moving to second on a wild pitch, stealing third and scoring on an error. The Bulldogs scored a single run in the bottom of the 7th inning to make it a final 12-5 victory for the Indians.
Game 2
Veer Patel started on the mound in Game 2 for the Indians. He pitched 5 and 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on four hits, giving up four walks and striking out one to pick up the win. Tucker Mc-Donald came on in relief in the top of the 6th inning with two on and one out, getting a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. McDonald also pitched the final inning to pick up the save and complete the sweep with a 4-6-3 double play.
The Indians picked up single runs in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th innings with nine hits. Cason Banks, Walker Moncus and Kaleb Bennett all got two hits each to led the offense.
In the bottom of the 1st inning Banks led off with a single followed by a walk to Moncus. Bennett put down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners up and Banks scored on a ground ball out by Ricks to put the Indians on top 1-0 after one complete.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning Patel got a lead off single, and Mason Toole came in as a courtesy runner. Morgan Moye moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt and Toole stole third. Andrew Norfleet got Toole home with a ground ball out to put the Indians on top 2-0 after two complete.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning Moncus got a lead off single. Bennett and Ricks followed with singles to load the bases. A ground ball forced Moncus at the plate, but another ground ball out by Whited scored Bennett to put the Indians up 3-0 after three complete.
The Indians scored one more run in the bottom of the 6th inning. Norfleet got a one out walk and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches. Banks hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field scoring Norfleet and giving the Indians a 4-0 lead going to the 7th inning.
In the top of the 7th inning the Bulldogs used a walk and two errors to plate a run and have runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. McDonald coaxed a ground ball to Moye, who started a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and secure the sweep moving the Indians to the second round of the playoffs.
With the win the Indians will move on to play in Adel this Saturday against Cook. Game 1 will start at 1:00 p.m. with the second game of the best-of-three series to follow. The if game will be next week if needed.
